Happy Birthday to Ellyn...I am still waiting for her apron to arrive...her shoes are here and both will be mailed out as soon a possible after arrival! I hope she has a great birthday!!! I'm so glad she came to our family!

Also, Happy Valentines Day to all. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful children (including the in-laws) and grandchildren. Being the dingbat I am, I just mailed out Valentines to Cleveland and Vilsek yesterday so they will be a few days late but it is always nice getting something in the mail. I even forgot to put out my Valentine decorations around the house. I don't have a lot but it would have been nice to put out what I have! (I will come by Dave and Adina's tonight!!)

We woke up today to a Valentine card and delicious muffins from Brent and Buffy. I am going to miss them when they get into their house (not the cats but them!!) We had our carpets cleaned yesterday because a family from our ward is using our house for their reception on Saturday night. My work has been slow due to my "getting ahead" of review and critical decisions. It has been nice, however, since it has given me time for other projects.

I lost the Expedition keys over the weekend which resulted in me entirely emptying my desk and rearranging it which was a good result. I was on the verge of towing the car to the Ford dealership when I squeezed my hand between the seat and the console in the car and found the keys....Hooray! We really do need to get a second set but I am going to thoroughly clean our closet prior to doing that. We lost them about three years ago right after we got the car and I have a feeling that they are in some obscure pocket. If not, I'll have to bite the bullet and pay the $150 that a new key costs!!!

We are starting to get quotes again for countertops. We are getting a nice income tax return so we are going to go ahead to do the countertops, bookcases, and painting up and downstairs (just not the bedrooms yet). Then I'll have to start saving for the floors and carpets. We want to extend our hardwood to the stairs and upstairs hallway and the dining area and then recarpet the rest...except for putting tile in our bathroom. We probably won't get the work done until after our trip to Germany in April since I'll be out of town in Idaho at the beginning of March and we are having a clinic party on the night of the 31st. Can't have the house torn up!!!

Speaking of Kenn's work, we are vacillating between our two alternatives with the decision changing day by day...It is a hard decision!!! I'd love to know how it all will work out!!!

Love to all...have a great Valentines Day and birthday!

Mom